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Florida's Taylor: 'I've changed a whole lot'

AP file photo

By Robbie Andreu | Halifax Media Services

Published: Thursday, August 7, 2014 at 04:00 PM.

GAINESVILLE — Over the past few years, there has been some friendly debate in and around the Taylor family about who would win a foot race between Kelvin Taylor and his famous father, former Florida Gator and NFL great running back Fred Taylor.

Well, debate over, apparently.

“I’d smoke him now,” Kelvin said Wednesday. “No doubt.”

Kelvin Taylor said he couldn’t have said that a year ago. But the dynamic has changed. It’s not that Fred has necessarily lost a step or two with age, it’s that Kelvin has gained one or two, or even more.

His teammates have noticed. One of them tweeted about Taylor’s improved speed earlier in the summer.

“Somebody tweeted something like, ‘Did Kelvin Taylor steal some of his dad’s speed this summer?’ ’’ Taylor said. “I feel like I’ve gotten a whole lot faster, working with the speed program we had this summer and just training hard, working really hard.”

GAINESVILLE — Over the past few years, there has been some friendly debate in and around the Taylor family about who would win a foot race between Kelvin Taylor and his famous father, former Florida Gator and NFL great running back Fred Taylor.

Well, debate over, apparently.

“I’d smoke him now,” Kelvin said Wednesday. “No doubt.”

Kelvin Taylor said he couldn’t have said that a year ago. But the dynamic has changed. It’s not that Fred has necessarily lost a step or two with age, it’s that Kelvin has gained one or two, or even more.

His teammates have noticed. One of them tweeted about Taylor’s improved speed earlier in the summer.

“Somebody tweeted something like, ‘Did Kelvin Taylor steal some of his dad’s speed this summer?’ ’’ Taylor said. “I feel like I’ve gotten a whole lot faster, working with the speed program we had this summer and just training hard, working really hard.”

Taylor said he’s not only faster, he’s also stronger and quicker. He’s transformed his body, adding almost 10 pounds of muscle with the help of strength and conditioning coordinator Jeff Dillman and his staff.

“Man, I can say I’ve changed a whole lot, just working with Dillman and those guys,” Taylor said. “My body has developed a whole lot.

“It adds everything. I’m going to be more explosive coming out of the backfield. It’s added a lot more different things that I needed in my game. I think the speed and strength are going to transfer tremendously with my quickness. I’m ready to go out there and have fun.”

Even without the speed and strength a year ago, Taylor had a promising true freshman season, rushing for 508 yards (a 4.6-yard average per carry) and four touchdowns and flashing all kinds of playmaking skills with his fluid running style.

He said he’s a much more complete tailback now, and is ready to show it this fall.

He was asked if he’s going to have a breakout season in 2014.

“Yes, sir. No doubt,” he said. “I’m just ready to go out there and keep working hard every day, keep getting better and trust my offensive line and everything else is going to fall into place.

“I’m ready to have a great year. I can’t wait to get out there on the field. I’m going to keep working hard, every day try to get better and better with the little things. I’m ready to go.”

Senior offensive lineman Trenton Brown said Taylor has been a beast in the weight room this summer.

“Oh, yeah,” Brown said. “We’re normally in the same workout group, and watching him work with coach Dillman, he’s probably one of the strongest running backs I’ve ever seen.

“He has a faster and my physical side to his game now. Sometimes, he had to make an extra cut (finding running room). Now, he can run someone over or run by them.”

When Taylor talks about being a more complete back, it includes his pass protection, another part of his game he has focused on improving this summer.

“I was doing different things with the offensive linemen,” he said. “(Tackle) D.J. Humphries and I were doing little dash drills, different pass-protection drills to make me a more complete back.

“I can’t wait to get out there this season. I’m excited.”

Taylor said his excitement also includes anticipating playing in new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper’s spread, hurry-up attack, which has a history of generating lots of yards and plays for the running backs.

“I feel like we fit into his offense great,” Taylor said. “We can play into space. It’s a downhill offense. It’s a very explosive offense. You can get a lot of different matchups.

“I feel like there are going to be a lot of explosive plays, and our offense is going to be explosive this year. We’re excited to get things rolling. I can’t wait.”